Crank handle drive device

ABSTRACT

Various implementations include a handle attachment device. The device includes a body and a drive shaft. The body has a first portion and a second portion. Each of the first portion and second portion defines at least one fastener opening. Each of the at least one fastener opening defined by the first portion is alignable with one of the at least one fastener opening defined by the second portion. The first portion and the second portion are clampable on a crank when the device is in a mounted position. The crank has a crank rotational axis.

BACKGROUND

Manual crank handles are used on trailer jacks to lower and raise thetrailer coupler onto and off of the receiver hitch of a vehicle.Typically, the jack includes a series of gears to drive the jack footvertically, which raises or lowers the end of the trailer. The trailerjack includes a manual crank handle to drive the jack. However, thesejacks can require a large amount of torque to raise the trailerdepending on the load that the trailer is carrying, making it difficultfor some users to operate.

Thus, a need exists for a device that is cheap and easy to use thatenables a user to easily operate a manual crank handle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Example features and implementations are disclosed in the accompanyingdrawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the precisearrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1 is a side view and an end view of a handle attachment device,according to one implementation.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the handle attachment device of FIG. 1along section line A-A.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a crank, according to another implementation.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the handle attachment device of FIG. 1in the mounted position on the crank of a trailer jack.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various implementations include a handle attachment device. The deviceincludes a body and a drive shaft. The body has a first portion and asecond portion. Each of the first portion and second portion defines atleast one fastener opening. Each of the at least one fastener openingdefined by the first portion is alignable with one of the at least onefastener opening defined by the second portion. The first portion andthe second portion are clampable on a crank when the device is in amounted position. The crank has a crank rotational axis.

The drive shaft is coupled to the body. The drive shaft has a driveshaft axis, an end distal to the body, and an engagement head coupled tothe end. The drive shaft axis is coincident with the crank rotationalaxis when the body is clamped to the crank.

Various other implementations include a crank. The crank includes afirst portion, a second portion, and a drive shaft. The first portionextends along a crank rotational axis. The first portion has a first endand a second end. The second portion extends transverse to the crankrotational axis. The drive shaft is coupled to the second end of thefirst portion. The drive shaft has a drive shaft axis, an end distal tothe first portion, and an engagement head coupled to the end. The driveshaft axis is coincident with the crank rotational axis.

The devices disclosed herein include devices for coupling to crankhandles and devices that are coupled to crank handles. The devicesinclude a drive shaft with an engagement head that is aligned, or arealignable with, the crank rotational axis. A user of the crank handlecan couple a driver, such as a drill, to the engagement head to rotatethe crank handle rather than manually turning the crank handle.

FIGS. 1 and 2 shows a perspective view of a handle attachment device100. The device 100 includes a body 110 and a drive shaft 150. Thedevice 100 is shown in the mounted position coupled to a crank 160. Thecrank 160 has a first crank portion 164 and a second crank portion 170.The first crank portion 164 has a first end 166 and a second end 168spaced apart and opposite the first end 166. The first crank portion 164extends from the first end 166 to the second end 168 along a crankrotational axis 162. The second crank portion 170 is coupled to thesecond end 168 of the first crank portion 164 and extends at an angletransverse to the crank rotational axis 162. A handle 172 is coupled tothe second crank portion 170.

The body 110 has a first portion 112 and a second portion 132. The firstportion 112 and the second portion 132 of the body 110 of the handleattachment device 100 each have a first edge 114, 134 and a second edge116, 136 opposite and spaced apart from each other, and a third edge118, 138 and a fourth edge 120, 140 spaced apart and opposite eachother. The device 100 also includes an intermediate portion 148extending between first edges 114, 134 of both the first portion 112 andthe second portion 132. The first portion 112, second portion 132, andintermediate portion 148 are integrally formed from a single sheet ofstainless steel. The sheet of stainless steel is bent along theintermediate portion 148 to form a “U-shape” such that the first portion112 and the second portion 132 are substantially parallel to each other.However, in other implementations, the body of the device comprisesgalvanized steel, aluminum, plastic, or any other material capable ofwithstanding torque from the driver when the device is in use. In someimplementations, the intermediate portion is not integrally formed withthe first portion and the second portion, and the intermediate portionis coupled to the first portion and the second portion by welding,adhesive, fastener, or any other method of coupling capable ofwithstanding torque of the driver when the device is in use. When thedevice 100 is coupled to a crank 160 in a mounted position, the crank160 is disposed between the first portion 112 and the second portion132. Fasteners 182, 184, 186 disposed in fastener openings 122, 142,124, 144, 126, 146 defined by the first portion 112 and second portion132 are tightened to clamp the crank 160 between the first portion 112and second portion 132, as discussed below.

The drive shaft 150 has a proximal end 154 and a distal end 156 oppositeand spaced apart from the proximal end 154 such that the drive shaft 150extends from the proximal end 154 to the distal end 156 along a driveshaft axis 152. The drive shaft 150 is welded to the body 110 such thatthe drive shaft 150 is disposed between the first portion 112 and thesecond portion 132 and the distal end 156 extends away from the body110. The drive shaft 150 is positioned such that the drive shaft axis152 and the crank rotational axis 162 are coincident with each other.Thus, rotation of the drive shaft 150 causes the crank 160 to rotateabout the crank rotational axis 162. Although the drive shaft 150 shownin FIGS. 1 and 2 is welded to the body 110, in other implementations,the drive shaft is integrally formed with the body or is coupled to thebody by adhesive, fastener, compression fit, pinning, or any othermethod of coupling capable of withstanding torque of the driver when thedevice is in use. The drive shaft 150 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprisesstainless steel, but in other implementations, the drive shaft comprisesgalvanized steel, aluminum, plastic, or any other material capable ofwithstanding torque from the driver when the device is in use.

An engagement head 158 is coupled to the distal end 156 of the driveshaft 150. The engagement head 158 of the device 100 shown in FIGS. 1and 2 is a hex head, but in other implementations, the engagement headis any other standard bolt head, such as a hex socket head, a squarehead, a slotted head, a Phillips head, a Torx head, a Robertson head orany other standard size such that the engagement head is engageable by astandard sized bit that is couplable to a driver, such as a drill, animpact driver, etc. In other implementations, the engagement head is acustom shape and size for engaging with a corresponding custom bit thatis couplable to a driver. In other implementations, the head iscylindrical or no head is included, and the head and/or shaft isdirectly couplable to and engageable by the driver without a bit.

The first portion 112 and the second portion 132 each define threefastener openings 122, 142, 124, 144, 126, 146. The fastener openings122, 124, 126 in the first portion 112 and the fastener openings 142,144, 146 in the second portion 132 are alignable such that fasteners182, 184, 186 can be disposed in corresponding fastener openings 122,142, 124, 144, 126, 146 defined by the first portion 112 and the secondportion 132. When the device 100 is coupled to a crank 160 in themounted position, the fastener openings 122, 142, 124, 144, 126, 146 arepositioned such that the fasteners 182, 184, 186 disposed within thefastener openings 122, 142, 124, 144, 126, 146 are located around thecrank 160 to firmly contain the crank 160. A first fastener 182 isdisposed within the first fastener openings 122, 142 in the firstportion 112 and the second portion 132, a second fastener 184 isdisposed within the second fastener openings 124, 144 in the firstportion 112 and the second portion 132, and a third fastener 186 isdisposed within the third fastener openings 126, 146 in the firstportion 112 and the second portion 132. Although the fasteners 182, 184,186 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are hex head bolts fastened with nuts, inother implementations, the fasteners are brads, rivets, ties, buttons,zippers, clips, or any other device capable of urging the first portionand second portion toward each other such that a crank is firmly clampedbetween the first portion and second portion.

The first fastener openings 122, 142 in the first portion 112 and thesecond portion 132 are positioned near the respective third edges 118,138 such that the first crank portion 164 is disposable between thefirst fastener 182 and the intermediate portion 148. The position of thefirst fastener openings 122, 142 in the first portion 112 and the secondportion 132 ensures that the crank rotational axis 162 is aligned withthe drive shaft axis 152.

The second fastener openings 124, 144 in the first portion 112 and thesecond portion 132 are also positioned near the respective third edges118, 138. The first fastener openings 122, 124 and second fasteneropenings 124, 144 are defined along a line parallel to a second crankportion 170 that is transverse to the crank rotational axis 162. Thesecond crank portion 170 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is perpendicular to thefirst crank portion 164, so the first fastener openings 122, 124 and thesecond fastener openings 124, 144 are perpendicular to the drive shaftaxis 152. However, in other implementations, the device is designed forbeing coupled to a crank with the second crank portion at any otherangle to the first crank portion such that the first fastener openingsand the second fastener openings are parallel to the second crankportion and at the same angle to the drive shaft axis.

The third fastener openings 126, 146 are defined between the respectivefourth edges 120, 140 and the first and second fastener openings 122,142, 124, 144. The third fastener openings 126, 146 are positioned suchthat when the device 100 is coupled to the crank 160 in the mountedposition, the second crank portion 170 is disposed between the firstfastener openings 122, 142 and the third fastener openings 126, 146, andbetween the second fastener openings 124, 144 and the third fasteneropenings 126, 146. The position of the third fastener openings 126, 146relative to the first fastener openings 122, 142 and the second fasteneropenings 124, 144 ensures that the device 100 does not slide axiallyalong the first crank portion 164.

FIG. 4 shows the device 100 in the mounted position on the crank 160 ofa jack 402 of a trailer 400. In use, the engagement head 158 is engagedby a driver, and the device 100 is rotated to rotate the crank 160. Asthe crank 160 rotates, the jack 402 raises or lowers the trailer 400,depending on the direction the crank 160 is rotated.

FIG. 3 shows a crank 200 having a drive shaft 250 similar to the driveshaft 150 of the device 100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Similar to the crank160 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the crank 200 in FIG. 3 has a first crankportion 264 and a second crank portion 270. The first crank portion 264has a first end 266 and a second end 268 spaced apart and opposite thefirst end 266. The first crank portion 264 extends from the first end266 to the second end 268 along a crank rotational axis 262. A secondcrank portion 270 is coupled to the second end 268 of the first crankportion 264 and extends at an angle transverse to the crank rotationalaxis 262. A handle 272 is coupled to the second crank portion 270.

The drive shaft 250 has a drive shaft axis 252, a distal end 256, aproximal end 254 opposite and spaced apart from the distal end 256, andan engagement head 258 coupled to the distal end 256. The proximal end254 of the drive shaft 250 is welded to the second end 268 of the firstcrank portion 264 such that the drive shaft axis 252 is coincident withthe crank rotational axis 262. However, in other implementations, thedrive shaft is integrally formed with the crank or is coupled to thecrank by adhesive, fastener, compression fit, pinning, or any othermethod of coupling capable of withstanding torque of the driver when thecrank is in use. The drive shaft 250 shown in FIG. 3 comprises stainlesssteel, but in other implementations, the drive shaft comprisesgalvanized steel, aluminum, plastic, or any other material capable ofwithstanding torque from the driver when the crank is in use.

The engagement head 258 is coupled to the distal end 256 of the driveshaft 250. The engagement head 258 of the crank 200 shown in FIG. 3 is ahex head, but in other implementations, the engagement head is any otherstandard bolt head, such as a hex socket head, a square head, a slottedhead, a Phillips head, a Torx head, a Robertson head or any otherstandard size such that the engagement head is engageable by a standardsized bit that is couplable to a driver, such as a drill, an impactdriver, etc. In other implementations, the engagement head is a customshape and size for engaging with a corresponding custom bit that iscouplable to a driver. In other implementations, the head is cylindricalor no head is included, and the head and/or shaft is directly couplableto and engageable by the driver without a bit.

A number of example implementations are provided herein. However, it isunderstood that various modifications can be made without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the disclosure herein. As used in thespecification, and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,”“the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictatesotherwise. The term “comprising” and variations thereof as used hereinis used synonymously with the term “including” and variations thereofand are open, non-limiting terms. Although the terms “comprising” and“including” have been used herein to describe various implementations,the terms “consisting essentially of” and “consisting of” can be used inplace of “comprising” and “including” to provide for more specificimplementations and are also disclosed.

Disclosed are materials, systems, devices, methods, compositions, andcomponents that can be used for, can be used in conjunction with, can beused in preparation for, or are products of the disclosed methods,systems, and devices. These and other components are disclosed herein,and it is understood that when combinations, subsets, interactions,groups, etc. of these components are disclosed that while specificreference of each various individual and collective combinations andpermutations of these components may not be explicitly disclosed, eachis specifically contemplated and described herein. For example, if adevice is disclosed and discussed each and every combination andpermutation of the device, and the modifications that are possible arespecifically contemplated unless specifically indicated to the contrary.Likewise, any subset or combination of these is also specificallycontemplated and disclosed. This concept applies to all aspects of thisdisclosure including, but not limited to, steps in methods using thedisclosed systems or devices. Thus, if there are a variety of additionalsteps that can be performed, it is understood that each of theseadditional steps can be performed with any specific method steps orcombination of method steps of the disclosed methods, and that each suchcombination or subset of combinations is specifically contemplated andshould be considered disclosed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A crank comprising: a first portion extendingalong a crank rotational axis, the first portion having a first end anda second end; a second portion extending transverse to the crankrotational axis, the second portion having a first end coupled to thefirst portion and a second end spaced apart and opposite the first endof the second portion; a handle extending from a second end of thesecond portion, wherein the handle extends parallel to the crankrotational axis; and a drive shaft coupled to the second end of thefirst portion, the drive shaft having a drive shaft axis, an end distalto the first portion, and an engagement head coupled to the end, whereinthe drive shaft axis is coincident with the crank rotational axis,wherein the first end of the first portion is configured to berotationally coupled to a jack such that the second portion and thehandle are circumferentially rotatable around the crank rotational axiswhen the first end of the first portion is coupled to the jack.
 2. Thecrank of claim 1, wherein the engagement head is shaped to engage a bit,the bit being couplable to a driver.
 3. The crank of claim 2, whereinthe engagement head is a standard hex head.
 4. The crank of claim 1,wherein the drive shaft is welded to the first portion.
 5. The crank ofclaim 1, wherein the drive shaft comprises a rust resistant material. 6.The crank of claim 5, wherein the drive shaft comprises stainless steel.